Topic: Foxconn

Reports from China claim that thousands of job seekers are lining up outside of Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn's Chengdu plant in hopes of landing a position at the factory as summer hiring ramps up ahead of rumored next-generation iPhone and smaller iPad launches.

Though Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said this week he'd like his company's products to be made in the U.S., a new report suggests the roadblocks might be too great for Apple to overcome, at least in the short term.

Apple this month is reported to have begun production of the first prototypes of its much-anticipated connected television sets at one of its overseas manufacturing facilities ahead of a general production ramp expected to begin late in the 2012 calendar year.

Apple's push to increase employee compensation and safety in its supply chain continues to have an effect in the Far East, where another key supplier has boosted pay and reduced overtime for its workers.

As it is believed to be gearing up to launch its own television, Apple initially considered investing in Sharp's LCD business, but the company instead opted to let its manufacturing partner Foxconn fill that role, according to a new report.